Improvement in apparatus for making hydrocarbon gas



w. H. suna. Apparatus for Making Hyd'r.nc,arbon Gas. N 0.1.5 2 {59 6.Patented 1 n ne 30, 11.814.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

IVILLIAM H. BURR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDEDWARD B. ENGLISH, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING HVDROCARBON GAS.

Specification forming part of IAflGYB Patent No. 152,596, dated June 30,1874; application filed May 14,1874.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. BURR, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improved Apparatus for Vaporizing Hydro carbons, of whichthe following is a specification:

My invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus forvaporizing hydrocarbons for which Letters Patent No. 132,800, granted tomyself and Edward B. English on the 5th day of November, 1872, afl'ordsan example; and the objects of my invention are to simplify and reduce,the cost of that apparatus, to prevent leakage, and to obtain a moreperfect vaporization of the hydrocarbon, which objects I attain bytheuse of steam heating-coils A and B, in both the oil and vaporchambers D and E, and by causing the partially-vaporized hydrocarbon topass from the former chamber into the latter through perforations in apipe, F, which is surrounded by the upper heating-coil B, all as fullydescribed hereafter, and as shown by the figure in the accompanyingdrawing, which represents a sectional elevation of theimproved'apparatus.

The apparatus is mounted upon legs a, and consists mainly of acylindrical flanged easing, Gr, having heads I) and b, and of a drum, H,surmounting the said casing, the interior of the latter constituting thehydrocarbon-chamberl), and thatof the drum the vapor-cham ber E.

The hydrocarbon is conducted into the chamber D through a pipe, 0, andmay be drawn off, when necessary, through a pipe, f, in the lower head,I), of the casing. The heating-coil A extends nearly from the top to thebottom of the chamber D, the steam entering through a branch, or, at theside of the casin g, and escaping by a branch, so, which extends throughthe head I). The upper coil, B, also occupies nearly the whole interiorof the vaporchamber E, and has inlet and outlet branches y and y, whichextend through the side of the drum. Communication is establishedbetween the chambers D and .E by the perforated pipe F, which extendsupward into, and is entirely surrounded by, the coil B, and the saidchambers also communicate with each other through two return-tubes, K,which extend from the base of the drum nearly to the bottom of thecasing Gr. These tubes prevent any accumulation of condensed hydrocarbonin the upper chamber, and one of them is also provided with gage-cocks,by which the height of the liquid in the lower chamber may be readilydetermined.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The lower chamber isfilled, or partially filled, with hydrocarbon, which is heated by thesteam in the coil A, and the vapor which is thus rapidly form ed passesunder considerable pressure through the perforations of the pipe F, bywhich it is thoroughly difiused. and brought in contact with the heatedsurface of the surrounding coil B, the latter superheating andpreventing the condensation of the hydrocarbon, which, in the form of ahighly rarefied and ignitible gas, escapes from the chamber E through apipe, h, and is conducted thence to the point or points at which it isto be utilized for heating or illuminating purposes.

The too rapid outward passage of the gas from the superheating-chamber Eis prevented by causing it to pass through perforations in an extension,h, of the outlet pipe h. The pressure of the gas in the chamber E may bedetermined by a gage, no.

I have found thatby superheating the vapor in the upper chamber, and bythe employment of coiled pipes instead of the rows of parallel tubesdescribed in my aforesaid patent of November 5, 1872, I can not onlyproduce a better gas, but considerably reduce the costof the apparatus,and render it more durable and less liable to leak, as there arecomparatively few joints.

I am aware that perforated steam-inlet pipes have been used with thedomes of Vaporizers to diffuse the steam therein, and I make no broadclaim to the combination of the dome and perforated pipe.

I claim as my invention- 1. An apparatus for vaporizing hydrocarbon, inwhich are combined communicating chambers D and E, containing steamheatingcoils A and B, all substantially as and for the outlet, extendinginto the dome, and perfopurpose specified. rated, as set forth.

2; The perforated pipe F, forming a'com I11 testimony whereof I- havesigned my niunication between the hydrocarbon and vaname to thisspecification in the presence of por chamber D and E, and surrounded bya two subscribing Witnesses.

steam heating-coil, B, in the latter chamber, WILLIAM H. BURR. allcombined substantially as specified. Witnesses:

3. The combination, with the dome and its WM. A. STEEL,

outlet, of a pipe, h, communicating with the HARRY SMITH.

